Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with Maryam Diaab

Urban Reviews: Tell us about your latest book Things Forbidden.
Maryam Diaab: Things Forbidden is my second novel and is filled with love, lies, drama, betrayal and a May/December Romance. My character, Yvette Brooks, decides to put her life in Detroit on hold and takes a new job in Nashville where she meets Ajani Riley. They are immediately attracted to one another, but there are problems. Yvette is getting married in six months and Ajani is 13 years younger than she is. Things Forbidden takes you on Yvette’s journey through love, friendship, and finding true happiness.

Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this novel?
Maryam Diaab: The idea for Things Forbidden just popped into my head one day. I usually come up with the male protagonist first and then the story evolves from there. I love to begin the ideas for my novels with, "What if?"

Urban Reviews: How did you come about becoming a romance writer?
Maryam Diaab: Since I was a little girl I’ve always loved to write. My mother would take me to the store and buy stacks of pink legal pads. I would write page after page of, what I now realize, were ten and eleven year old romances. Once I got older my passion for writing faded, but after having my second child it returned with a vengeance. One day I sat down and began writing my first novel, Where I Want To Be. Initially, writing that novel served as a stress reliever and a way to entertain my friends at work. But the more I wrote, the more passionate I became. I never really knew that I was becoming a "romance" writer. I just sat down to write that first novel and at the conclusion it happened to be romance. It wasn’t premeditated, I just wrote the story that I loved without thinking about the genre.

Urban Reviews: What are your expectations when it comes to your career as an author?
Maryam Diaab: My expectations for my career as an author are simple. I want to continue writing stories that I love and continue entertaining all those who enjoy reading my work.

Urban Reviews: What do you feel is the biggest misconception about romance novels?
Maryam Diaab: I feel that the biggest misconception about romance novels is that they’re all sappy bodice rippers with no originality and weak characters. In reality, the romance novels of today are varied, filled with exciting plot points and strong, realistic characters.

Urban Reviews: What issues regarding the book industry you would like to change?
Maryam Diaab: I would like to change the ease in which low quality, poorly written novels are saturating the market place.

Urban Reviews: What projects are you working on for the future? When can we expect it to be released?
Maryam Diaab: I’m currently working on my third novel, tentatively titled Unraveling. I like to think of it as a Waiting to Exhale for the 20 something. I am about a third of the way done, with a completion goal set for May 2009. I am taking my time. Unraveling is a fabulous story and I want to craft it perfectly.

Urban Reviews: Who are some of the authors that you have admired, both within the romance field and outside of romance?
Maryam Diaab: A few authors I admire are Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris, Van Whitfield, Terri McMillan, and Bebe Moore Campbell. When I read I really try not to consider genre. I pick up the book, read the synopsis and decide from there. These are the authors who consistently keep me coming back for more.

Urban Reviews: What advice do you have for the aspiring authors out there who are considering a career in romance writing?
Maryam Diaab: My advice to aspiring romance writers would be to read the genre you want to write. Do your research. Know the market and the publishing process inside and out. Write everyday, even if you can only find the time for a paragraph, and join a writers group and get unbiased feedback on your work.

Urban Reviews: Name one thing that the world doesn't know about Maryam Diaab...the person.
Maryam Diaab: One thing that the world doesn’t know about me is that I married my high school sweetheart.